By Mohammed Nasir Shuaibu (Bauchi State Correspondent)
A non-governmental organization, Azurfa Women and Wisdom Farmer's, Auwala, at the weekend, organized a one-day training for 175 women groups on Point Of Sale (POS) machine business skills in Bauchi State.
The groups comprising of seven cooperative societies under the Village Savings and Loans (VSL) box projects was being sponsored by Action Aid at grassroots community levels in the state metropolitan with 25 members each.
The one-day training, according to the Executive Director, Mrs Talatu John, was aimed at targeting the women at the community level to educate and sensitize them with the necessary knowledge and skills in modern business techniques as well as savings in the area of new cashless policy introduced by the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) and the federal government.
She disclosed that after identifying some gaps in their businesses, the women were advised to open an individual group account to access more funds from donor agencies.
Mrs John also explained that apart from the knowledge, the training will also create an avenue for the women groups to add value to their business.
She, however, called on the government at all levels and well-to-do individuals to come to their aids and support the project to enable in reaching more women in different value chain programs in the state and beyond.
Also speaking, Mrs Monica Tanko, a facilitator, said the training will also equip the women with basic knowledge on how the women can be able to meet up with the present challenge of cashless policy and online banking.
Mrs Tanko explained that today, "Most women in our rural dweller's communities didn't know how to use the modern technology in making transactions in their day to day businesses for them to be equipped with the knowledge.
In her part, Habiba Ajufoh, dwelt on business conceptualization, strategy, planning, management, and savings, as well as embracing the cashless policy. She also emphasised the advantage of savings and needs for each member on personal savings as well as group contributions.
She urged the organization to purchase a POS machine and give them to the women as loans to ease their weekly return for each group member.
Some of the women interviewed after the training, expressed their different views. One of them, Hajara Abubakar, aged 37 year-old from Albaka cooperative society, said she has benefited a lot through the (VSL) program where she bought a piece of land at the cost of N300,000 and she has started building it.
According to her, "We're able to pay scholarship to the son of our member in the community and now he has graduated as community health extension worker (CHEW) assisting people in the community.
Corroborating, Mrs Celsius ThankGod, said the community group members have benefited a lot through the group savings where they give succor to those who were admitted at the hospital or home with little medical bills support.
She added that more women have now indicated their interest to join and register their membership because of the unity, support and encouragement they witnessed from us. NNL.
